Monday, June 29, 2009

The Day the Piano Came

We're getting to know lots of people here, some acquaintances, and a closer connection to others. We ran into a couple and their two boys on Saturday night, June 20, in Belgrave, after we'd all walked in an evening Solstice lantern parade. Other than the news that a local wine bar had just opened, and a chat about how gorgeous the many lanterns were as we walked down the main street which had been closed to traffic, she was aglow with the news that their new grand piano was arriving on Tuesday. Tuesday has come and gone, and the piano is there, in its own room. Ready for the many fingers that are waiting for it. The house is reasonably chaotic she said, but the piano room is all organized. The other, older, piano is now in the bedroom of one of their sons. Both teach music in a local TAFE (like our community colleges), and he is in a band.

As I'm writing this the news of Michael Jackson's death has hit the airwaves. On Friday morning in school everyone was wondering if it was real or a hoax. And everyone had their memory about music which they shared with others -- where they were when they heard about the death of Elvis. How the little boy of the Jackson 5 thrilled them with his soaring voice. My kids only really know about the clownish or media side of the man -- not the beautiful, clear voice that appealed to so many.

Most of us resonate to/with music. A while ago Gerald emailed me and suggested I could write about what I'm learning here about Australian music, so here's my attempt. What I do know, right from the first, is how much Canadian music I was hearing everywhere. I don't listen much to the commercial music stations, but when I do, there's lots of the same generic music you will hear anywhere. Pink is hot right now because she's on a big tour in Aus. AC/DC are coming next year, so there was a lot of talk about who got tickets and how quickly they sold out. And there's a big fight between the AC/DC concert promoters and the Footy clubs who have booked the same stadium for their pre-season shows next summer/fall. Footy is god at so many levels here. Discussions are now ongoing! There's a universality to a lot of the music we're hearing about here -- the airwaves, the Internet -- everything is everywhere. But there's great local stuff as well.

We missed Leonard Cohen and Neil Young earlier in the year, but several music lovers talked about them when they heard our Canadian accents. One woman mentioned how her husband and friends managed to get to 2 Neil Young concerts -- one here in Melbourne, the second an 8 hour drive away in Sydney. One of the teachers at FCPS was impressed that our kids knew about Leonard Cohen when he mentioned his attendance at the concert. And tickets to last week's Simon and Garfunkel shows didn't sell as quickly as hoped -- tickets priced in the mid $200 range are pricey. A woman stopped me at a local shopping centre after hearing the Canadian accent to talk about her love for the music of Canada's east coast, particulary Rita MacNeil. I finally had to drag myself away from her -- a very avid fan who was going to email Rita that night to tell her she had just met a Canadian in the shopping centre.

The love of music, commercial or not, is intrinsic to our being. I heard our kids setting new words to the "The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" the other day. And tapdancing to the tune throughout the house. They now know the Australian anthem, but still burst out into "O Canada". We have discussed how "our" anthem differs so much from the other... much national pride. Ferny Creek Primary School has its own school song, all about being high in the clouds, and about the gorgeous trees that surround us. I am constantly amazed at all the bird song in the hills, hearing the birds calling to each other. Apparently bird pairs who stay together have a purpose or intent to their song -- a specific and vital form of communication that allows the bond to stay strong. The magpies are usually seen in pairs or family groups, as are the kookaburras. The kookaburras also use their voice to warn others from their territory. By the way, the sounds for the first Tarzan shows/movies were taped in the bush in Queensland. So that iconic jungle sound is straight from Aus. (This from another local parent/musician.)

While it's hard to take it all in, we have been picking up music knowledge here and there. There is one independent radio station (3RRR at http://www.rrr.org.au/ ) that I listen to that plays some great (long-winded sometimes!) interviews, and I'm always hoping they'll just play some more of the music they're talking about. I've also heard of some local radio networks, based in one or two little towns/suburbs in the area, that have an avid folk music following. We met 2 men at the Kallista market, who host folk music evenings once a week on a station that only has limited range.

And I know the Winnipeg Folk Fest is now gearing up for action in the coming week. We have heard about a few well known folk festivals in the region -- in April, when we were in Canberra, the Canberra Folk Festival was starting as we were leaving. And there are folk festivals along the Great Ocean Road, one in Port Fairy and one in Apollo Bay, both hosting Australian and international performers. The Apollo Bay festival made news recently because festival organizers are fighting in the courts with each other about one group paying themselves too much money.

As I'm often listening to ABC National, I don't focus as much on individual music channels, but almost every ABC program showcases an Australian performer, while a few focus specifically on music. What I'm going to do is provide some links to the shows that focus on music, and then keep adding performer's names to the sidebars of the blog. That way you can click on a person and check out their music. You will likely know about or remember bands like Midnight Oil. Peter Garrett, their big stage presence, is now the Labour Member for Kingsford Smith, and is Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts, elected in 2004. He is often in the news because of his political role, but Midnight Oil regrouped and performed at the Bush Fire Relief concerts in March, and by all accounts performed admirably. You will also know of some of the other "big" names -- Nick Cave is often talked about. Someone mentioned Neil Finn to me, and when I questioned the citizenship, they admitted he was originally a Kiwi (NZer), but they like to claim him as one of their own.

Rebecca, the owner of the new piano. mentioned her sister Angie Hart to me. I was talking about different music and thinking about ideas and she casually mentioned Angie to me. Angie fronted the band Frente for years, with international success. She's back in Melbourne now, and her new solo album is called Grounded Bird. Read more about this talented singer athttp://www.newherenowlive.com/profile.php?band=134#biography

Another great music show you might want to check out on the Internet, via streaming audio, or podcasts (when available is MusicDeli. There are some excellent links and info on the page which is found at http:www.abc.net.au/rn/musicdeli/default.htm.

The Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) awards honour the country's top songwriters, with awards voted by 30,000 musicians and industry professionals. A name you will recognize from the days of Yothu Yindi is Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, who won the award for Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year. His debut album, Gurrumul, has sold 140,000 copies on an independent label, with little commercial radio support. http://www.myspace.com/gurrumul. Even Peter Garrett gets in on the accolades!

Last week the kids and I attended an amazing amateur musical evening called "The Gang Show", created and performed by Scouts and Guide groups from the Melbourne area. The performances were impressive given that it's developed, written (music and lyrics), and designed (costumes and stage set) beginning in February. The first half was about Marco Polo and the 2nd had an environmental focus on animals in the Australian bush. http://www.gangshow.org/current.html

It's hard to keep up... and I haven't even started on the classical scene... I'll save it for another day.

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Snow Days

Back in Canada

Date and Ginger Oaties

I've mentioned the date and ginger cookies by the Byron Bay Cookie Co. I'm still looking for their recipe, but have been experimenting with a few of my own, and have found a fig and ginger recipe that can be adapted and gets quite close to the Byron Bay original!

Sift flour into bowl, stir in oats, coconut, sugar, dates and ginger. Combine butter and golden syrup and water in pan, stir over low heat (or use microwave) until the butter is melted. Stir hot bubbling mixture into the flour mixture.

Shape 2 level tsps of mixture into a ball, place onto greased (or use paper) oven tray. Flatten slightly. Allow about 5 cm between cookies. Bake in moderately hot oven (180/350ish or a bit hotter) for 12 - 15 minutes (depends on size of cookie) or until slightly browned.

Lay the sliced oranges on a platter and scatter over some of the radish, sliced thinly. Grate the remaining radishes and mix with the carrot.

Mix olive oil, cumin, cinnamon, orange blossom water and lemon juice, and season with salt. If you can't get the orange blossom water, just leave it out... I have tasted a salad with it as a dressing and it's amazing, but don't stress about finding it if it isn't easily available. Pour the dressing over the grated carrots and refrigerate for 15 minutes. To serve, pile carrot and radish mix on top of the orange and radish slices, and dust with a little cinnamon.

Heat the oil in a wok over medium heat and add the laksa paste, stirring occasionally for 2 min. Add the sugar and cook until dissolved. Add the coconut milk, chicken stock and kaffir lime leaves and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the lime juice, fish sauce, chicken slices and prawns (add prawns later if you wish), and getnly poach them until just cooked.

Drain the rice noodles. Divide the noodles, tofu and bean sprouts among four large bowls and ladle over the soup, chicken and prawns. Top with shallots and coriander leaves.

Spring Flowers

Suzannah Espie

Parrot Visitor

Singer Alex Lloyd

Pennywhistle by Augie March

Orange and Almond Cake

Ingredients1 large orange3 eggs1 heaped cup castor sugar1/2 tsp baking powder (increase if not using s.r. flour)1 cup almond meal1/3 cup S.R. flour (the brand used in the original recipe is gluten-free, I think)

Method1. Place orange in saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook 1 hour or until orange is very soft. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Remove seeds from orange and place in food processor/blender. Blend orange, including skin, until smooth. Cool.2. Preheat oven -- 180 - 200 C.3. Grease and line 20 cm springform pan with baking paper.4. Beat eggs, sugar and baking powder until thick and pale.5. Mix orange pulp into egg mix.6. Whisk flour and almond meal together and fold into egg and orange mixture.7. Pour into prepared tin.8. Bake 45 minutes. Insert skewer into centre of cake to ensure cake is cooked. This cake is slightly moist when finished.9. Cool cake in oven. (Turn oven off first!)From Dianne Boyle.

1. Heat oven to 180C. Roast beetroot in oven on baking tray for 35 minutes or until tender. (I did not wrap in foil.) Cool when finished, peel skin, and cut into wedges.2. To make dressing, combine oil, vinegar and brown sugar. I didn't have red wine vinegar so I used a sweetish red wine we have in the house and combined it with the oil, and some white wine vinegar. Season with cracked pepper and salt.3. Place beetroot in large bowl. Drizzle with dressing and marinate if you have time. Add the spinach and gently toss to combine. Serve sprinkled with goat's cheese and walnuts.

Adapted from taste.com.au

Cate's Scones

We are in the final throes of winter. The following scone recipe is courtesy of Cate, our neighbour.

Method1. Set oven at 220 C.2. Rub butter into flour and salt, using the fingertips.3. Mix into a soft dough with milk. Add a little milk if required.4. Turn on to a lightly floured board and knead until smooth and elastic.5. Roll out 2 cm thick and cut into shapes.6. Arrange on oven tray and glaze tips with milk.7. Bake at 220 C for 10 - 15 min.

Ned Kelly helmet

Anzac Biscuits

Method:1. Mix oats, flour, sugar and coconut together.2. Melt syrup and butter together.3. Mix soda with boiling water and add to melted butter and syrup.4. Add to dry ingredients.5. Place teaspoons of mixture well spaced on a greased baking tray.6. Bake in a slow oven for 12 - 15 minutes at 180C.

Watch them. Every oven is different and they can dry out quickly. Makes up to 50 (small, obviously; we got about 25 biscuits out of this recipe).

Passionfruit buttercake

125 g butter, melted300 g (2 cups) self raising flour (or add 1.5 tsp baking powder)1/3 cup buttermilk2 eggs, lightly beaten1 cup sugar1 tsp lemon zest2 passionfruit, to serve1 cup icing sugar, to serve1. Preheat oven to 175C. Grease and line a loaf pan. Place the butter, flour, buttermilk, eggs, sugar and lemon zest in a large bowl. Using hand beaters (or a wooden spoon), mix until well combined.2. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 45 - 50 min or until golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Cool in the pan for 5 min then transfer to a wire rack. To serve, remove the pulp from the passionfruit and place in a small bowl. Add the icing sugar and stir to combine until the mixture forms a smooth paste. Drizzle passionfruit mixture over the cake.

If you can't find passionfruit, use the juice and pulp of any tart fruit you love.ENJOY. Adapted from a recipe in the Herald Sun's taste.com.au, May 6, 2009.

Tom Roberts

Spring Sale and Open House - May 9

Rosalie Gascoigne

black bird box 1976

Book and Music List

"it's raining in Mango" by Thea Astley. Bought it used in Nimbin. The guy selling books couldn't help me out when I asked about it. A nice surprise. Traces 5 generations of a family with Irish and Canadian roots in northern Queensland.

Ruth Parks: "Missus", "The Harp in the South", and "Poor Man's Orange". Set in country Aus and on to Sydney. Follows an economically (and socially) deprived family over several generations. It's pathetic at a basic level, but inspiring to see how certain individuals try to escape their status.

"The Castle" and "Crackerjack" -- 2 sweet little Aussie movies. In "The Castle", a man fights a powerful corporation from taking over his house to enlarge the airport acquisition. "Crackerjack" is about the members of a lawn bowling club and their fight to save the club without resorting to the pokies.

the waddi tree by Kerry McGinnis (author of The Road to Coorain) -- an authentic account of growing up in the outback in the 1950s/60s